Ryan Libbey, the fiancé of former Made In Chelsea star Louise Thompson, has spoken candidly about entering a state of 'survival mode' following the traumatic near-fatal birth of their son, Leo, in 2021. He described becoming the sole primary caregiver for both his critically ill partner and their newborn, a role that lasted for over a year until a pivotal conversation with his father prompted him to seek help.
A Year of Crisis and Caregiving
The 35-year-old influencer, Louise Thompson, nearly died during an emergency caesarean section, losing an estimated 12.5 litres of blood. The horrific complications led to severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and postnatal anxiety, leaving her unable to bond with her son for the first six months as she fought simply to stay alive.
Appearing on the CBeebies Parenting Download podcast with Professor Green, Ryan Libbey, also 35, opened up about the immense pressure he faced. 'My version [of becoming a dad] was very, very different to what I would have ever hoped or dreamt of,' he confessed. 'That first year of becoming a dad I was essentially just thrown head first into being primary caregiver for Louise.'
He detailed a relentless schedule of medical appointments, both in hospital and at home, with teams of experts monitoring Louise almost daily. 'I was doing every nighttime, every change, every walk. I was doing the role of both mum and dad,' Ryan explained, recounting the emotional toll of countless frightening moments at home that remain vivid in his memory.
The Fatherly Intervention That Changed Everything
Ryan admitted he was 'basically in survival mode' for the entire first year of Leo's life, solely focused on keeping his family afloat. The breaking point came after 11 months, during a conversation orchestrated by his father on a park bench in Mayfair.
'I knew that it took a lot for my dad to orchestrate that chat,' Ryan said. 'It was essentially "You're not in a good spot. You need some help. How can I help you?"' This intervention was the catalyst he needed. He subsequently took a four-day trip abroad to clear his head, a decision he credits with putting him on a better path, acknowledging he had been on a 'pretty bad trajectory.'
Louise Thompson's Ongoing Health Battles
Louise's health struggles have continued long after the birth. In addition to PTSD, she has since been diagnosed with Lupus and Asherman's syndrome, suffered a second haemorrhage, and has had to have a stoma bag fitted. The situation was so severe that a crisis-management team conducted what Ryan described as a suicide watch, as Louise was 'so mentally checked out.'
Most recently, Louise spent Christmas Eve in hospital, later sharing an update from her hospital bed after a medical procedure. She took the opportunity to publicly thank NHS staff working over the bank holidays, writing: 'Thanks for keeping the country ticking along and for keeping our loved ones alive.'
Now a campaigner for women's health and maternity rights, Louise's ordeal and Ryan's experience highlight the profound and often overlooked impact traumatic birth can have on both parents, underscoring the critical need for mental health support for the entire family unit.
